Murder charges on accused for acid attack on Lankan students in Oz

Melbourne, July 1 (ANI): Attempted murder charges have been laid against a man accused of an acid attack on two Sri Lankan students during a home invasion in Western Sydney.

Detectives arrested Amalathepan Srikantharajah, 25, of Girraween, about 10am (AEST) on Wednesday and charged him with attempted murder over the May 17 attack in western Sydney’s Westmead.

The attack followed a series of racially motivated incidents between Tamil and Sinhalese Sri Lankans following the violent end to that nations 37-year civil war.

The two victims Chathurika Weerasinghe, 27, and housemate Jayasri Watawala, 22, were attacked in their home by a group of men with one also suffering a stab wound to the stomach and a broken ankle.

Strike Force Doorwood Commander Albert Joseph, who is coordinating the investigation, said police were still looking for other offenders.

“Extensive investigations have been conducted by the Strike Force Doorwood investigation team and as a result a male person has been charged with attempted murder, break and enter with intent to commit murder, and use a corrosive substance to maim another person,” the Daily Telegraph quoted him, as saying.

The man arrested today already faces a charge of failing to disclose the identification of a passenger in his vehicle following the incident and two other men have previously been charged with concealing a serious offence.

Detective Inspector Joseph said the two victims had been informed of the latest arrest. He said both men were continuing to recover well from their horrific injuries. (ANI)

Attempted burglary at Lindsay’s LA pad

Washington, May 13 (ANI): Lindsay Lohan’s house nearly escaped burglary after being broken into in broad daylight, cops have confirmed.

The actress’ Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles faced a potential break-in around 3 p.m. on May 12.

Cops found signs of tampering and pry marks on a window and a back door after investigation though no possible suspects have been shortlisted.

“It was an attempted burglary. No property was taken and no one was home at the time of the incident,” E Online! quoted spokeswoman Karen Reyner as saying.

According to TMZ, it was the Mean Girls star’s home alarm system that alerted police who later found evidence of probable theft.

Meanwhile, a source said a “person of interest” in the case is a man who has allegedly been stalking and making threats against the singer. (ANI)

Sarah Jessica Parker, hubby ready to split?

Washington, Jan 08 (ANI): Hollywood actress Sarah Jessica Parker is reportedly moving out of the home she shares with her husband Matthew Broderick.

Last year, Star magazine had claimed that Broderick, 46, had an affair with a younger woman.

However, the couple denied the reports, and put on a united front.

But five months after, the rumours are back, as Star has claimed that the pair attempted to save their 11-year marriage for the sake of their four-year-old son.

But now, they are preparing to go their separate ways.

“Sarah Jessica is determined to get her own place and bring down the curtains on her marriage,” Contactmusic quoted a source, as saying.

“They”re essentially living separate lives. The truth is, Sarah and Matthew still do love and care about each other, they just aren”t in love, and they don”t want to waste any more time trying to repair something that”s irreparable,” the source added. (ANI)

Shiekh Hasina to be sworn-in as Bangladesh PM

Dhaka, Jan 6 (ANI): Shiekh Hasina, the President of the Awami League Party (AL), will be sworn-in as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh here today.

President Iajuddin Ahmed will appoint and administer oath of office to Hasina and her colleagues in the new council of ministers. He will also appoint and administer oath of office to the other ministers, state ministers and deputy ministers.

Hasina returns to power after spending a few months in custody on charge of murder, extortion and corruption. She has since been acquitted.

In the December 29 polls, the Awami League -led alliance got 262 seats with the AL securing 230 seats alone. The number of AL lawmakers will exceed 265 when another 36 lawmakers to be elected to the seats reserved for women will join parliament.

Bangladesh has been ruled by a military-backed government since January last year when months of political turmoil prompted the army to cancel polls and impose a state of emergency.

Bangladesh attempted to hold elections twice in 2006, but months of strikes and street violence forced the caretaker government to step in.

Hasina, who is close to New Delhi, was in power from 1996-2001. During that period Bangladesh”s bilateral ties with India were said to be at its best, The Daily Star reports. (ANI)

Demonstrators clash with Lebanese police near US embassy

Beirut – Demonstrators clashed Sunday with Lebanese security forces as they attempted to advance to the US embassy near Beirut, while protesting the ground assault on Gaza and the US stand on Israel’s military actions.

Around 150 people belonging to the Lebanese Communist Party gathered outside the embassy building north east of the capital and attempted to cross the barbed wire that has placed around the embassy.

“The US administration is helping Israel in killing the Palestinian people ..,” read a placard carried by the demonstrators.

Lebanese security forces dispersed the angry demonstrators using water hoses and tear gas.

Similar daily protests against the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip have been taking place in the Lebanese capital since the Israeli began its attacks on the salient on December 27. (dpa)

Hamas calls for emergency meeting of Palestinian factions

Cairo  – A spokesman for the militant Islamist movement Hamas called Sunday for an emergency meeting to present a united Palestinian front in the face of the Israeli ground offensive launched against the Gaza Strip on Saturday evening.

Mohammed Nazal, a spokesman for Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, said on Arabic satellite channel al-Arabiya that “all national powers” should come together to meet, to decide on a united course of action, in the face of the Israeli offensive.

Meanwhile, a representative of the Fatah movement of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, on Sunday urged the Palestinians to rally round the president “to show the world that in these difficult hours we are standing together.”

Barakat al-Fara said in a press conference in Cairo that Israel was conducting a “criminal war.”

Egypt, Yemen and Saudi Arabia have, since the take-over of the Gaza Strip by Hamas in June 2007, attempted to forge reconciliation between the two factions. An Egyptian brokered ceasefire between Hamas and Israel ended on December 19, prompting the current round of violence.

Israeli troops began a ground offensive in the Gaza Strip late Saturday, following more than a week of aerial bombardment. (dpa)

Kerala youth held for sexual assault on German woman

KOZHIKODE: An 18-year-old youth has been arrested for allegedly trying to sexually assault a 64-year-old German national on the Kappad beach.

The incident occurred at the popular tourist destination yesterday when the accused, identified as Rijosh Lal, attempted to outrage the modesty of the victim, police said. Her partner, also a German national, was witness to the incident, they said.

Rijosh Lal has been arrested under Section 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of the IPC, police said, adding that he would be produced before the Koyilandy Judicial First Class Magistrate Court.

The tourism police deployed in the area picked up the accused after the victim raised an alarm, they said.

The Germans were staying in a hotel in the city since December 11 and were planning to checkout on Monday morning.